Tebowie

This is probably the funniest Tebow parody I've seen yet. I love you, Jimmy Fallon!

Oh, and, just for the record.....GO PATRIOTS!!!!!!!!

So much for my gut

I'm not going to lie, I did not have a good feeling about this last Chicago trip. I came very close to canceling it a few times as I felt like it was just going to be another disappointment for me that I really did not feel like dealing with.

A little background to catch up any new people (or those of you who may have forgotten how we got to this point).....

I'm taking part in a clinical trial run by Dr. Richard Burt at Northwester Memorial Hospital. Here is his website if you're interested. Anyway, in 2010 I was randomized into the "control" arm of the study, rather than the treatment arm. Control basically means you take Tysabri (an FDA approved drug for MS, supposedly the best out there right now) and get rechecked at predetermined intervals. Treatment is a stem cell transplant (currently the only thing showing any promise as a cure for MS). Needless to say, control was a disappointing group to be in.

The interesting part about this study is that there is an ability to cross-over from the control to the treatment arm if your disability score increases and stays that way after a 6 month period. This is where all my frustration has come in. Not to completely rehash all this, but basically I think the doctor who does the EDSS is completely inconsistent and, well, frankly, I think he is an idiot. So I've been in this weird holding pattern with Dr. Burt, having me go back to Chicago multiple times where I keep getting told that, no, I'm half a point away from being able to cross over.

So this leads me to this week. Another quick two day trip to the windy city by myself, which I was really not looking forward to. And then it happened. The EDSS doctor (oh, did I mention he's the only blinded participant in the study?) gave me a higher EDSS...way higher, actually. I mean, I know I've progressed and acquired some new symptoms, but I didn't think it would be much higher...not that I'm complaining.

I'm now tentatively on for an April/May stem cell transplant! There is so much to do and think about now, the most important being MONEY! (Stay tuned for more info on that)

I'm back home now, exhausted from my quick trip and barely any sleep the past 3 days, but feeling, for the first time since I began this clinical trial, hopeful. It's not a bad place to be in.




P.S. Just don't ask me how I'm going to stand being away from Mason for 2-3 months. It's going to seriously be the hardest part of this whole ordeal, I'm sure. I just have to remember that he's a major reason I'm doing the trial in the first place.

Funny Nativity

After my last post about Mason being quite the "singer", my mom sent me this video. Todd and I both laughed so loud and hard we were in tears. 

Gishy Goo

I'm not sure if I mentioned this yet or not, but a couple of months ago I got braces. Yes, real metal braces. Just on my bottom teeth, but still...they're the real deal.

Here's what happened. I had braces as a teenager and they put one of those permanent retainers on my bottom front teeth. As time as passed, my teeth surrounding the retainer have shifted, one tooth in particular. My dentist has been "suggesting" for years that I go back to an orthodontist, but since it was really just cosmetic, I didn't go. At my last cleaning, my dentist didn't just suggest, he basically told me to go. Apparently, my teeth shifted enough it was causing bite problems and TMJ issues.

The dentist told me it would be just a simple fix, like Invisalign.

HA! Not the case.

Basically, I forgot how much they could hurt. And how torn up the inside of you lip gets! To make matters worse, the little colored bands that they put on the brackets are made of latex, which I am allergic to. Those little bands, while making your braces any lovely color of the rainbow you could possibly wish for, also help add a little cushion for your lip against the metal. So I'm out of luck there. It hasn't been too terrible, but when it does get bad, I have GISHY GOO! This is something new, well, at least since my previous experience with braces. It's a strange silicone thing that goes on your brackets and works WAY better than that stupid wax they give you. It's a life (and lip) saver!

The only good thing to come out of this is that the orthodontist I'm going to is incredibly good looking :)

One for the....oh, hell no!

Just saw the trailer for "One for the Money" and I am so incredibly disappointed with the casting. I mean, as if Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum wasn't annoying enough they totally missed the mark on Morelli (hello, as the name would imply, is Italian...not Irish). Ranger needs to be WAY hotter. And Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur?! Jesus, what has the world come to. Was Janet Evanovich even consulted when they cast this movie?

This is definitely one of those times where making a movie from a book totally screws it up for me...and I haven't even seen the movie yet!

Firefighter Loy

Firefighter MASON Loy, that is. Like father, like son, right? This firefighter costume is still way too big for him, but we got it out today and he had so much fun playing with it. I am constantly amazed by his imagination when we are playing. It is so much fun!!

Ready to go!

Off to drive the "fire engine"

Driving to the fire

The saying on the wall is so, so true

Helping get his monkey ready for the fire, too

My handsome boy.

In the great green room

We have been reading Goodnight Moon since Mason was a teeny little baby. It is very often the last book we read before Mason finally goes to bed at night, and lately it has been fun to have Mason "read" it to us.

Hot Time in the Old Town

Holy hell is it hot in Chicago! Apparently, summer decided to greet me on my trip this week. Talking to people today, this crazy weather just started...and boy is it hot! Today was in the mid-90s (96 degrees was the hottest I saw) and I saw that tomorrow is supposed to be over 100!

I don't see myself getting out much on this trip. This kind of heat, coupled with the super high humidity, really aggravates my MS symptoms. I have to go downtown tomorrow for my lab work and MRI, so hopefully there will be enough shops around with AC that I can duck into to cool off. I did head down the street tonight and got my mani-pedi done. On my way back I picked up some dinner at Noodles & Company and brought it back to the room. YUM!

Talked to Todd and Mason for a little bit. They are doing the "how many sleeps" countdown for Mama to come home. Only 3 to go! Last night Mason had to spend the night with Nana and Papa, and he slept in the "big bed" for the first time. He has always slept in his pack and play over there, but now we put a side rail on the bed in the spare bedroom for him. My mom said he did great, and sent me some cute pics this morning of my happy boy waking up.

Jumping for Joy

I broke down today and bought Mason one of those inflatable bounce houses. He was so excited tonight when I set it up in the yard for him. He kept telling me "This is fun!" He was so exhausted after running around in that thing tonight....totally worth it!

That is the face of one very happy boy

Run Run Run

This is FUN, Mama!

Pretending to go night night

Playing peek-a-boo

Never Forget

With the crazy news hitting the world right now that Osama Bin Laden has been killed, my mind naturally wanders to 9/11/01. This year will be 10 years since that awful day, and I hope this news today can bring some peace to the families who lost loved ones that day.

On a personal note, I have a hard time "celebrating" the death of anyone, even someone as heinous as Bin Laden, but I can absolutely understand why this is something that is being celebrated. It does seem crazy to me to think of the thousands of lives that were lost in the last 10 years in exchange for this one life. I guess I just hope it was all worth it.

This boot was made for walking

Even with the super annoying boot I've been forced to wear since being run over with a gurney in the OR (ok, that was slightly dramatic, but whatever) I managed to still do the Walk MS this year. The weather was GORGEOUS this year and I'm so proud to report that Team Hope raised $5000!

Mason was in and out of the stroller the entire walk, but he did great. He was totally into all the airplanes on Lake Hood, and was excited to see a couple take off from the runway. Only in Alaska would a walk have to stop to let a plane go by!

I know I say this every year, but I am so overwhelmed by the love and support of our family and friends every year. Thank you all who donated, and thank you all who came out and walked for our team. So many people aren't as fortunate as I am to have such an amazing support system, and sometimes I need to be reminded of just how lucky I truly am.

My baby brother. His sign says "I walk for my sister"

Mason's friend Ashe and his daddy came

Mason and Todd running around 

My sweet boy. His shirt says
"I wear orange for my mommy"

Trying to get that kid to look at the
camera is impossible sometimes! 

The kids all got balloon animals after
the walk. Mason and Haily each got monkeys.

Ashton and his alien

Me and my boys

Finally looking at the camera and it's the
most phallic shot ever! Ugh!

Sticking out his tongue like monkey

Couldn't get everyone together for a picture, but
here is some of Team Hope. Check out Mason, what
a bookworm! Just like his mama :) 

Like father, like son

I've been meaning to post on the latest Anchorage Symphony performance. Quite honestly, I don't have the words.

Dave Brubeck has been one of my favorite composers for many years, although, at times in high school trying to master "Take Five" he was my nemesis. He has absolutely passed on his amazing talent to his son, Chris Brubeck. A few years ago, ASO premiered Chris' piece called "Spontaneous Combustion", which he wrote for Nick Kendall (I'll get to Nick soon) and it was amazing. This time, Chris was back with Nick and ASO with "Travels in Time for Three". Amazing doesn't even begin to cover it. Seriously. Like I said, without words.

Back to Nick, or Violin Boy as he is affectionately called by myself and Mariah, or just VB for short. Any kid who ever went through Suzuki violin lessons has a tie to this kid...or at least his grandfather, who basically brought the Suzuki method to the U.S. Anyway, VB came back to Anchorage (his third (?) trip I think), this time bringing friends along for the ride. Time for Three + Chris Brubeck = me being without words (I know I've mentioned this a lot here, but I'm not sure you understand how incredibly rare it is that I find myself speechless)

Here's how I can sum up how much I loved Tf3 and this piece...I have (almost) forgotten about Randy's hair and how it still hasn't quite grown out enough. This is huge for me. HUGE!

What a difference

What a difference a couple of months makes. Mason is a master at the ABCs now, and can actually identify a few letters himself. Of course, M is for Mason and D is for Daddy are his favorites. I finally caught him on camera again singing his ABCs. It's funny to go back and remember how impressed I was just 3 months ago when he still called them his ABX.

Indestructible

Our other Christmas drama had to do with our pug, Duncan. Our family does a kind of potluck-style dinner when we all get together. It's great, everyone brings something so no one gets stuck having to cook everything all day. For Christmas we were responsible for the turkey and the bread.

I actually really love making bread. It's such a process, but I think it's so fun. I decided to make a braided Challah loaf. I mixed everything together, kneaded the dough and set it by a baseboard heater upstairs (behind a closed door where it could get nice and warm). Punched it down and let it rise again. Punched it down and rolled it out into four pieces, then braided them together. Then I put the braided dough back to rise a final time...and apparently didn't close the door all the way. Next thing I know the stupid pug has eaten almost half of the raw bread dough. Grrr! My beautiful bread was ruined!

I actually didn't think much of it at the time, other than being mad Duncan ruined my bread and also mad because he's so stupid (he really is, he'll eat anything). I figured he would have a belly ache, probably throw up, or have diarrhea (or both) and that would be it. So out into his kennel he went.

The next morning, after Todd fed him and went to work, I noticed he threw up his food. This didn't really surprise me much. What bothered me was the fact that the poor dog was tripping over his own two feet, stumbling around the house, literally walking into things. Then I noticed that my normally svelte pug had quite the round little tummy. It hit me like a ton of bricks...FRICK! The dough kept rising IN HIS STOMACH! Then for the second ton of bricks...DOUBLE FRICK! The yeast fermented, and he is drunk!!!

I immediately got on the phone with Diamond Animal Hospital (not our normal vet, but they have a 24 hour emergency room there). They said I needed to bring him in right away to be seen because the alcohol poisoning can be toxic to a dog. Ugh. Great. I had just gotten Mason down for his nap, so my aunt was kind enough to come over to the house while I took Duncan to the vet.

The moment we walked into the vet office they took us straight back (there were probably 5 people in the waiting room ahead of us). The vet did a couple x-rays of Duncan's abdomen to see if he was passing the dough or not.

For those of you reading this that work in x-ray, I'm sure your jaw just dropped (like mine did, too). For those of you who don't work in x-ray, Duncan's stomach is the huge thing taking up most of his abdomen. Basically, the picture on the top is like you were looking at him laying on his back. The black at the top is his lungs (air), the white in the middle of that is his heart. Just below this on your right (Duncan's left) is a huge oval shaped fuzzy thing...that would be his stomach full of raw bread dough.

So, this explains why his stomach was so distended. The problem here is because his stomach was so huge, it shifted all his other abdominal organs out of place, making it hard to tell what is what. Based on these pictures, the vet couldn't say with certainty that Duncan hadn't perforated, or ruptured, his stomach. He suggested going into surgery immediately...which I was not a fan of at all. He decided to do an ultrasound first to try to confirm what was going on, which luckily showed Duncan hadn't ruptured anything. So now we could try to get him to throw up this mass of dough, which I am so thankful he did. The other option was to go in surgically and get it. Again, not a fan of that option at all.

Story over, right? Wrong. Tuesday I had to take Duncan to our normal vet to have his liver enzymes checked. Because of the alcohol poisoning he had we had to make sure he didn't do damage to his liver. Our vet called us last night with his blood results. His enzymes are a little elevated, and his electrolytes are slightly out of range, but judging on the weekend the poor guy had, it wasn't anything too shocking. Hopefully the enzymes are just up right now from having to metabolize all that alcohol and will go back down, but we won't know for sure until we recheck them in 6 months.

As for Duncan, since the moment he threw up he has been acting like nothing ever happened. This dog is seriously retarded, but I love him. I can't help but wonder, though, how many lives a dog gets. They always talk about cats having 9 lives, but no one says this about dogs. Whatever the case is, this dog is going through them pretty quickly. 

Terrific Two!

Ok, I know, it's normally the "terrible twos", which some days is definitely more accurate, but today I feel like celebrating all that is terrific about Mason being two. He is such an amazing little boy, and every day I feel so incredibly lucky and blessed to have him in my life. He is going to be quite a character as he gets older, I can already tell he has such a personality and fun sense of humor. I'm eternally thankful that he is (generally) healthy, and hope to never take this for granted. He is kind and sweet, but definitely all boy!

It's crazy to think that it has already been two years. Time really does fly by (although, to be honest, there are days now and then that one day can feel like two years). It seems so cliche, but it is so true! Everyone told be how fast it would go, but now I really know for myself. It honestly feels like yesterday that I was pregnant and counting down the days until my c-section, when I would finally meet Mason. What an awesome day. I thought my heart would burst I loved him so much, and that feeling has only grown since then. (Click on the links to see me super preggo and also pics of Mason's grand entrance)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Mason! I am so amazed and awed by you every day, and I am so thankful that you were brought into my life. If you were the only thing I had to call my own, I would be, by far, the richest person in the world!

 In the car he is now very aware of everyone having their seat belt on. And now, as you can see, his friends have to wear their seat belt as well.

Dr. McCutie here, getting ready to listen to his thump thump. Having asthma has to have some perks, right? Lucky for us he still thinks the stethoscope is cool.

Open Bed

A few days ago Todd and I decided to be brave and take the tall rail off the side of Mason's crib. He hasn't decided to climb out of the crib, but I know that day is totally coming. So, to try to avoid injury, we decided to move toward a toddler bed. This scares the crap out of both Todd and myself. Mason has always been so incredibly easy to put to bed, we have been SOOOOOOOOOOO lucky with this! Our fear is that once he isn't contained in his crib this will be over, at least for a period of adjustment.

Anyhow, I ventured to Babies R Us and picked up a side rail to put on the crib. This allows Mason to get in and out on his own (EEK) but keeps him from actually rolling out of bed in the middle of the night.

So far, knock on wood, it's been going really good. He is super excited that his bed is "open", although the first night he did ask Todd to close it and we had to explain that it doesn't close any more. My little man is growing up!

Here's what his crib looks like now. It's kind of hard to explain what it looks like now.

Ask and you shall receive

With all of my checking of the FedEx tracking website yesterday, I decided to give it up. I knew my package was in Anchorage (as of 11:42am, to be exact) but it said it wouldn't be delivered until Thursday. To my surprise, when I left work today I had a voicemail from the FedEx delivery man who had tried to deliver my package! I called him back and, to my even greater surprise, he came back! Whoohoo! My new laptop is here. In fact, this is my first blog post from my new computer. Of course, now I need to figure out how to get all my stuff on here that I want and get my iTunes transferred....yikes. Wish me luck.

Happy!

Mason loves to talk. In fact, sometimes he just repeats the same word over and over, and over and over...I hate to admit it, but it can be quite annoying after a while. But most of the time I just listen and try to figure out what he's saying.

Yesterday, during dinner, Mason told me he was happy. This is one of his new words he loves to say. So I asked him why he was happy and he said "Dada home. Happy". Todd had been at work for an extra long time, so he hadn't seen him since Sunday. I smiled and told him that Daddy being home made me happy, too. Being selfish, I asked him what else made him happy, thinking maybe Mama would be next. Nope. "Papa. Happy" was the next answer. Ok, what else, I asked him...Mason then stopped for a second, smiled his little cutie smile and said, "COOKIE! HAPPY!"

So there you have it, the key to my son's heart...Daddy, Papa and cookies.

So long, girls

Today, July 30th, 2009, I put on a size 34H bra for the last time. Tomorrow morning I go to the Ak Surgery Center at 8am to have breast reduction surgery. I'm sure the procedure will go smoothly, and I totally trust my surgeon (Dr. Jana Cole). I'm a little worried about how much it's going to hurt after, but I was told it doesn't last long. I will try to at least keep people updated on Twitter...maybe I can even get Todd to post an update blog.

My family is going to help with Mason since I won't be able to lift anything for 2-3 weeks. That will be the worst part of the whole thing, I know. Hopefully it will fly by. I know I am so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing family that is so willing to help out. They're awesome! And of course Todd will take great care of me, like always.

So......wish me luck......can't wait to show off my "new" girls :)

Home again

We made it back home safely. Mason is a great traveller! He slept on both flights and adjusted to the time difference and sleeping in a different place like a champ! I'm working on getting a slideshow of our pictures...but in the meantime I thought I'd share a Duncan update.

While we were gone Duncan lost an eye. My brother (who was housesitting for us) called me when he came home from work to Duncan's eye looking like this...

He took him to our vet, who determined that the eye wasn't salvageable...so she removed it. Now he looks like this...

Actually, it looks a lot better than this already. Poor little guy. We don't know how it happened, but it looks like he was biten.